Time to get the band together as North East Vase heroes face off for charity

By Mark Carruthers

FA VASE heroes from Dunston UTS and Whitley Bay are set to roll back the years as part of a special anniversary marking their big day at Wembley.

Dunston will pay homage to the tenth anniversary of their famous victory by taking on a Bay side made up of some of the most successful players in the competition’s history.

Working alongside former assistant Tony Harrison, UTS boss Billy Irwin will once again lead the 2012 FA Vase winners as they face a Bay squad containing players from their triple Vase-winning sides of 2008-11.

The likes of goalscoring heroes Andrew Bulford and Paul Chow will pull on their boots once again as the two sides go head-to-head to celebrate their achievements in a competition that has become synonymous with success in the Northern League.

LOVELY BUBBLY: Whitley Bay’s treble-winning FA Vase heroes are to dust down their boots

The game will take place at Dunston’s UTS Stadium on Saturday May 14 with all gates receipts raised on the day donated to St Oswald’s Hospice in Newcastle – the chosen charity of former Bay star Mark Taylor.

Irwin reckons the reunion of his former players will be an emotional occasion but stressed the importance will be place upon fundraising for a special cause.

“Mark Taylor wanted the money to go to St Oswald’s Hospice and it’s something that means a lot to our committee and myself,” he told The NLP.

“Our Wembley squad are still close – we still have a WhatsApp group and we get together a few times a year.

“Obviously, we want to win.

“It will probably be a bit emotional being back in the dressing room with the lads because they are such a good group.

“They are an old school group, there are some brilliant lads in there and they all still get on but, knowing them as I do, I know they will also be very determined to win the game. It should be a great day.”

Current Dunston manager Chris Swailes will be part of Irwin’s squad after the former Ipswich Town and Bury centre-back played a significant role in their Wembley triumph against then-Northern League rivals West Auckland Town.

But despite his current position at the club and his form during the run to Wembley, Irwin joked that Swailes is far from guaranteed a place in his starting line-up.

“Swaz was great for us and he is a great lad,” said the Dunston legend. “But that doesn’t mean he will get a start. I might have to take him outside of the dressing room and have a quiet word to explain any decision I take. He’ll have to earn a start like anyone.”

Admission for the game will be £3 for adults and £2 for under-16’s and concessions.

THOSE GLORY DAYS: Dunston UTS players hold aloft the FA Vase in 2012 – now they are about to reunite

PICTURE: Alamy